Sign.



E. F. EHRENBERG.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. I913.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

awe/who:

e m m w E r e m E UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

ELMEB F. EHRENBERG, OF CREIGHTON, NEBRASKA.

SIGN.

Application filed June 5, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER F. EHREN- BERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Creighton, in the county of Knox and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification, refererence being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved sign, and has for its primary object to provide improved supporting means for signs of tin or other sheet metal, whereby the use of screws, nails, hooks, or other similar securing or attaching devices may be dis pensed with.

It is one of the more particular objects of the invention to provide an improved sign including a foldable frame or easel and an improved metal sign board having means for operative engagement with the legs of the frame, whereby the sign board is securely held in its applied position without necessitating the use of additional fastening means.

And it is a further general object of my invention to provide a device of the above character which is relatively simple, strong and durable in its construction, highly serviceable and convenient for the intended purpose, and capable of manufacture at relatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved combination, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and where- 1n:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved sign, a portion of the sign board being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the frame or easel folded and the abnormal condition of the si n board when applied to the frame; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through one leg of the supporting frame with the sign board engaged thereon.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the two pairs of bars or legs of the supporting frame or easel, the legs in each pair being connected together at their upper Specification of Letters Patent.

' each other.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 238,316.

ends by suitable hinges, shown at 6. The legs are further connected intermediate of their ends by the hingedly connected link bars 7, said bars being respectively pivoted to the spaced supporting legs. These link bar's limit the relative outward movement of the legs 5 and are adapted to fold upwardly when the legs are forced inwardly upon The corresponding supporting legs at opposite ends of the frame are likewise rigidly connected together by means of the'intersecting brace rods or bars 8. In this manner, it will be apparent that a very rigid and substantial frame structure is produced.

A groove or channel 9 is formed in the outer face of each of the supporting legs -5, said grooves opening at their upper ends upon the upper ends of the supporting legs and terminating at their lower'ends approximately at the centers of'the supporting legs. The purpose of these entlv explained.

The sign board proper is formed of tin or other suitable sheet metal and consists of similar opposed portions 10 which are connected by a horizontally extending tubular portion 11 which is open at its lowerside. This sign board may be conveniently stamped or cut from a single metal sheet, and the longitudinal edges of the portions 10 thereof are curved or turned inwardly, as at 12. The inherent resiliency of the metal tends to expand the tubular portion 11 of the metal sheet and open the lower side thereof, the opposed sections 10 of the board being thus yieldingly held against relative inward movement toward each other.

\Vith the supporting frame or easel partly open, the sign board is applied thereto by engaging the inturned edges 12 of the sections 10 of the board in the longitudinal grooves 9 formed in the legs 5 of the frame. In order to do this, the parts 10 of the board must be forced toward each other, thereby contracting the tubular portion 11. The

hingedly connected legs 5 are then forced grooves will be presknobs which may be tightly fitted into the opposite ends of the tubular intermediate portion 11 of the sign board. It will, of course, be apparent that instead of constructing both sides of the board from a single metal sheet they may be separately formed, one side being provided with the tubular portion 11, and the other side of the board neatly fitting beneath the edge of this tubular portion. In such case, however, the grooves 9 must be very carefully formed in the supporting legs of the frame so that the inturned edges of the sign board will have proper frictional engagement therewith.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of use, and several advantages of the invention will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that I have produced a very simply constructed sign whereby the use of nails, screws, or similar fastening elements is entirely obviated. The sign is, however, securely held in its applied position upon the frame, and may be very easily and quickly arranged upon the frame or removed therefrom. The frame can then be collapsed or folded, and together with the sign board may be stored away in a relatively small space. It will, of course, be apparent that the supporting frame and the sign can be of any desired size and dimensions. The form of the sign board, as Well as the con struction and arrangement of the several parts of the supporting frame can be varied in many particulars, and it is therefore to be understood that while I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is nevertheless susceptible of considerable modification and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention. as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a sign, a supporting frame having hingedly connected legs, a sign board consisting of a resilient metal sheet having oppositely inclined portions and a resilient tubular portion connecting the inclined portions at one of their ends, each of the supporting legs being provided with a groove in its outer side, and said inclined portions of the sign board having means on their opposite edges for engagement in said grooves, the resilient tubular portion of the sign board urging the said means into clamping, frictional engagement with the Walls of the grooves.

2. In a sign, a supporting frame having hingedly connected legs, each provided with a longitudinally extending groove, a sign board consisting of opposed sheet metal portions having their longitudinal edges inwardly turned for engagement in said grooves, a tubular portion between said opposed portions of the sign board extending over the hingedly connected ends of the supporting legs, and closures fitted within the opposite ends of said tubular portion of the sign.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELMER F. EHRENBERG. -Witnesses:

H. A. CHENEY, A. J, LUNBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

